February 27 @ 7:30 pm
Today was demanding! We started at 9,000 feet and went to 11,500 feet. The difficulty transpired from the fusion of hot muggy weather, steep climbs and diminishing oxygen. Not helping the condition is my ongoing cold which appears to be getting worse. This persistent concern burdens me due to the fact that some people stay home from work with the cold I'm fighting. I'm getting low on cold tablets so I will try to bum some medicine off of some climbers at tonight's camp. This is also the final day of hiking with Paul. After two days hiking through the rain forest, forest and, today; the moorlands, I saw Kibo for the first time, late in the afternoon.
Charles pointed out flora today that the natives use in tea. He cautioned that someone as inexperienced as me should not consume this natural herb. According to Charles, "It will make you goofy." Can you say narcotics?
Dirt is embedded everywhere on my body. Even after meticulously washing my hands and fingernails, within ten minutes they're filthy again. Oh yeah, the flatuating has begun - a common side-effect of high altitude climbing.
